Broadcasting bill put on hold: DoC

[jes]

Broadcasting bill put on hold: DoC

Communications Minister Roy Padayachie has withdrawn the draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill pending further consultation, and wants to consider new models for funding the SABC and community media, it was reported on Monday.

 

[ic]

Too early for applause - I will wait for the review of the revised bill before considering congratulating Roy, and only after his 5 star hotel expenses have been reviewed and he has paid back the ZAR2m he has squandered so far.

 

[Mbuzi]

Well Minister we want to see cheaper internet and phone calls. Leave us alone we don't wanna hear anything regarding the SABC

 

[Johnfpro]

I cannot understand how it's possible that the same department, just with a different chief, can change and review models so quickly! Does this suggest that the previous head was completely on the wrong track (rhetorical question)?

If so, why did it take so long to find out?

 

[ic]

I cannot understand how it's possible that the same department, just with a different chief, can change and review models so quickly! Does this suggest that the previous head was completely on the wrong track (rhetorical question)?

If so, why did it take so long to find out?

One can only speculate, but perhaps it was related to the following news which broke a few days ago:

No SABC Tax, says ICASA

In an uncompromising submission in response to Nyanda's call for comments on the Bill by January 15 this year, Icasa insists that the SABC should be wholly funded by the state.

The fact that we only heard about !CASA's anti-Nyanda-tax comments a few weeks after Nyanda had been sacked, suggests that Nyanda was instrumental in preventing !CASA's comments from being released into the public domain.

Following that news article, what choice did Roy really have but to go back to the drawing-board with the whole additional taxation to fund the SABC idea?

 

[Gatecrasher]

The income tax provision was only the tip of the ice berg in this train smash of a bill. Good riddance to it.